In the early days of April, when the Thanh Minh Festival just started, the atmosphere at Cau Cuong Cemetery (Tan Hung ward, Hai Phong city) became busier than usual.
From early morning, streams of people carrying incense, flowers, and offerings were present, spreading to the family's graves. Incense smoke spread lightly in the space, interspersed with gentle conversations, creating a solemn but cozy atmosphere.
In many tomb areas, people are busy cleaning, weeding, wiping beer, changing flowers and lighting incense to commemorate. Some families bring clean water, brooms, and towels to take care of the graves thoughtfully. The graves after being repaired become cleaner and more orderly.
Besides, many people spend time standing silently in front of the grave, as a way to remember and chat with the deceased.
It is easy to see images of many families visiting graves in large numbers of generations. Grandparents take their grandchildren with them, parents guide their children on how to burn incense and arrange offerings. In the quiet space, stories about ancestors and families are told, helping the younger generation understand more about their roots.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh (Tan Hung ward, Hai Phong city) shared: "Every year my family arranges to go to the tomb during Thanh minh. Coming here, it's not only to clean up but also when the whole family gathers, recalling memories of grandparents and ancestors. I also want my children to understand that this is a very important part of family tradition.
Thanh Minh Tet is a holiday imbued with the cultural and spiritual meaning of Vietnamese people, associated with the moral principle of "drinking water, remembering the source". According to convention, Thanh Minh festival starts around April 4th or 5th after the Spring Festival and ends around April 20th or 21st of the solar calendar.
During this time, families choose a suitable day to sweep the graves, offer incense and commemorate ancestors.
After completing the tomb sweeping, many families returned to reunite, preparing traditional dishes such as banh troi and vegetarian cakes.
In the midst of modern life, the image of people going to tomb sweeps is still preserved as a cultural beauty, contributing to connecting generations and preserving long-lasting traditional values.